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12.26.2010

Happy day after Christmas. I hope everyone had a splendid holiday. It was quite the whirlwind for us. We left at the crack of dawn and headed down to my Dad's house where we opened gifts with our sons, my dad and my sister.

In the evening the entire family (minus a few that had been felled by Winter colds) got together for more gift opening and a huge dinner.

I am looking forward to another nine (!) days off before I have to return to work. I fully intend to relax every single day.

As you may have noticed I have done a little redecorating around here. Not sure if I am done yet. I wanted something soothing and simple. I am going back and forth between two layouts and I decided to let you vote. Which do you prefer:

All flax back ground –

Or the added touch of pale blue for the side bars –

Yep those are the big decisions I am making this week. That is as taxing as it will get.

I may clean out the closet in my office/studio/dining room. But we'll see. It is a hot mess and I'm not sure if I have the fortitude to tackle it right now. I would love to turn it into strictly sewing related storage but we'll see. Right now it is the closet equivalent of a junk drawer.

Merry Christmas!

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In the spirit of the holidays here are a few links to my favorite charitable organizations.

American Cancer Society – this one is especially close to my heart this holiday season.
Can you imagine not having even the most basic of needs accessible to you? Everyone should have access to clean drinking water.
A teeny tiny loan can make the difference between abject poverty and being able to support oneself. Kiva provides the means to make small loans to entrepreneurial types so they can lift themselves out of poverty.
Every 30 seconds a child dies of malaria. Let me repeat that – in the time it has taken you to read this a child has died of malaria. $10 could save a life.
Six million senior citizens in the US face the threat of hunger. Meals on Wheels has a goal to recruit just as many volunteers to help end Senior hunger. If you can't donate money you can donate your time.

I don't think I say this often enough – but I cherish each and everyone of you for taking the time out of your busy lives to come visit my little corner of the internet. I appreciate all your comments and encouragement. May your holidays be filled with joy, love and gratitude.

Merry Christmas.

12.22.2010

It's that time of year!! Popcorn balls!

Hmm – the festive cocktails made their way back into the picture as well. Lest you think I am a total lush I rarely drink spirits. I'm normally strictly a wine girl but tonight my friend Keith came over to help Rick and I make popcorn balls and the occasion really called for an Andreatini.

Here is the recipe (for the popcorn balls).

Oops Keith is in need of a refill.

First pop mass quantities of popcorn and place into a buttered cauldron.

Then boil up some sugar and more sugar in your oldest, crustiest pot. Hmmm – wonder how much teflon we've ingested over the years….

Then busy yourself with soup making so the two male helpers have to grease up their hands with butter and assemble the popcorn balls. Remind them they aren't packing snowballs and to not squish the popcorn balls into hard, inedible spheres.

Admire their work:

12.21.2010

Okay not a very festive picture. This is one of the bridges on our property that criss-cross the Miner's Ravine Creek. It has a very abandoned air about it right now.

I went out, just before dusk tonight, with my camera to see what the creek was up to. Literally. It was threatening to go over the banks on Sunday but we have had a bit of a respite from all the rain the past two days and it has receded a little bit.

I think I've mentioned this before but the man that built our house also built four bridges on the property. Two proper suspension bridges over the creek, a covered bridge over the pond and small bridge over a little gulch.

Our property is bisected by the Miner's Ravine Creek. It is a year round creek and in the ten years we've lived here it has only flooded once. That was pretty spectacular. Our house is well above it so it was never in any danger.

Normally the creek is about 15 feet across but one New Year's Eve day we awoke to a 100 foot river coursing through our back yard.

Here is a little video of how it looked today – if you want the experience of walking on the bridge.

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